James 1:19 - 27 An Evening Service Scripture Study - Holiness is Visible!

^19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ^20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ^21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

^22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ^23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ^24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ^25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

^26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ^27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:16 - 19 An Evening Service Scripture Study - First-Fruits-R-Us

^16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ^17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ^18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

James 1:12-15 And Evening Service Scripture Study - Understanding Temptation

^12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

^13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ^14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ^15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James tells us that "evil desire" is the key to falling for temptation. What do you think this "evil desire" really is?

James 1:1-12 An Evening Service Scripture Study - Asking for Wisdom

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

^2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ^3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ^4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ^5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ^6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ^7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

^9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ^10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ^11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

^12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Isaiah 60: The Glory of God - the Joy of a Believer

One of the common confusions about the Glory of God is that his Glory is something to be feared. After all, there are illustrations in the Old Testament where Glory and judgment are connected. But the theme that comes to us from Isaiah and many other passages is that our greatest joy is the Glory of the Lord in at least two senses.
Paul writes
^11 In him we were also chosen, ^c having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ^12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

^c Or were made heirs

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:11). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Our Joy is because of his Glory - the two are intimately connected.
Our Joy is a demonstration, it is the expression of the Glory of God.
The passage that I will work with is Isaiah 60 which follows:

The Glory of Zion

60 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

^2 See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

^3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

^4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters are carried on the arm.

^5 Then you will look and be radiant,

your heart will throb and swell with joy;

the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

to you the riches of the nations will come.

^6 Herds of camels will cover your land,

young camels of Midian and Ephah.

And all from Sheba will come,

bearing gold and incense

and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

^7 All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,

the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;

they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,

and I will adorn my glorious temple.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Is 60:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Have you seen the "glory" of God on people? What does it look like? On a community? What does that look like? Your comments are deeply appreciated.

2 Corinthians 4:6, Hebrews 1:3: The Glory of God - Jesus Christ

The scripture says it clearly:

2 Corinthians 4:6
^6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” ^a made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

^a Gen. 1:3

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Co 4:6). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Hebrews 1

The Son Superior to Angels

1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ^2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ^3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ^4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Heb 1:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

In fact, the book of John pictures the Glory of God revealed in Christ specifically when he is raised up on the cross. This message will focus on the myriad of ways that Jesus revealed the Glory of God, one of the main reasons also that so much of our worship and adoration goes not only to the Trinity, but also especially toward Christ who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

When you look at Christ - how do you sense he reveals the glory of God? Your feed forward is deeply appreciated!

Psalm 19: The Glory of God - the Essential Purpose of Creation

This is a first of a series of four sermons that I hope to do this summer on the overarching theme of the Glory of God. Scripture from the beginning to the very end resonates with the chorus - "to the Glory of God." In this series, we hope to explore how rich this theme is. This first sermon will focus on creation. When we go on holidays, we often experience wonderful sights in nature. It may be that this summer you have experienced in a new way the Glory of God through creation. Feel free to share. It may well come up in this sermon.

The scripture that we will be meditating on:

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

^1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

^2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

^3 There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard. ^a

^4 Their voice ^b

goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

^5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

^6 It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

^7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

^8 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

^9 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

^10 They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

^11 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

^12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

^13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

^14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

^a Or They have no speech, there are no words; | no sound is heard from them

^b Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew line

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ps 19:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

One of the books that I am reading in preparation for this series:
"God's Passion for His Glory" by John Piper (electronic pdf version available for free on the internet. Click on the Book title)

CAN'T YOU TAKE A YOKE?

Sorry for the pun, but I had to.

This will be our last Summer Evening Service before summer holidays kick in seriously. I usually give a sermon on rest before summer - and since the morning services have been taken over by our annual theme, this is it.

Matthew 11:25-30 is a very interesting passage. In it Jesus invites us to rest by taking on a his yoke. If you are familiar with an agrarian culture, though, you know that a yoke is actually something that involves work. It is the cross member between two burden bearing animals that helps them to pull a heavy load. This is the scripture passage

Rest for the Weary

^25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ^26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

^27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

^28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ^29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ^30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 11:25). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

How would you understand the rest that Jesus is calling us to? What kind of work is he calling and to and what does the yoke have to do with it? Give you input, your thoughts, your struggles, it will all be appreciated.

Pastor Bill

Sunday June 17 PM Service - The Unreasonable Actions of a Faithful Father

The Story of Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac on the Altar puzzles many people. But this is a test, a test which needs a faithful father's response. Read
Genesis 22:1-19

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

As we read this passage, we discover a father who even in the context of family conflict over what he was doing, was willing to obey God. On this Father's day, a halmark Sunday, have you discovered that sometimes being a Father who obeys God causes conflict in your family, school, work life? If you have illustrations, please share them. It may be that this sermon also applies to the summer second service option which we are going to decide on after the service.